SPRINGFIELD -- With more than 20 years of experience in the athletic training field, Mark Ortiz has joined Missouri State Athletics as a new assistant athletic trainer and will work primarily with the Bears basketball program in his new role.
 
Ortiz, who has spent the past eight seasons at Drury University, worked with the men's and women's basketball programs at DU, in addition to the tennis and soccer teams.
 
A native of Topeka, Kan., he earned his undergraduate degree from Washburn University in his hometown before later earning a Masters in Sports Sciences from the University of Denver.
 
From 2002-11, Ortiz worked as the head athletic trainer for Blue Valley West High School in Overland Park, Kan., and had the same role at the Olathe Medical Center, serving Ottawa (Kan.) University and three area schools from 1990-99. Before his stint at Drury, he worked for the New Jersey Outlaws of the Federal Hockey League and the Newark Bears, an independent baseball franchise in the Canadian-American Association.
 
He is certified by the National Athletic Trainers Association and holds ATC-R, CSCS and CES certifications. He is also a registered athletic trainer in the states of Kansas and New Jersey.
 
Ortiz replaces Tyler Landgraf who recently left Missouri State to pursue another professional opportunity after 12 years with the basketball Bears and the MSU Athletic Medical and Rehabilitation Services group.
 
His hire is contingent upon final approval by the Missouri State University Board of Governors at its next scheduled meeting.